Liz Warner is new Comic Relief CEO
Howard Lake | 6 September 2016 | News
Comic Relief has appointed Liz Warner as its new chief executive officer. Starting in October, she will replace Kevin Cahill who is stepping down after 25 years.
Warner is the founder and CEO of television production company betty, one of the UK’s top 30 independent companies. Under tenure, betty won the Edinburgh Innovation Award, two BAFTA nominations for the Channel 4 series The Undateables, and an Emmy for Forgiven, a drama about child abuse.
She has previously worked as commissioning editor at Channel 4 responsible for the first Grand Designs, River Cottage, and the first Big Brother, as well as campaigns on literacy, women’s health and sexual health.
At the BBC she was deputy head of the BBC’s Youth department. Her programming credits include The Autistic Gardener C4, Breaking Up with the Jones’s C4 and BBC3’s Spendaholics.
In recognition of her achievements, Warner was this year invited to deliver BAFTA annual television lecture.
As CEO she will be responsible for Red Nose Day, Sport Relief and Comic Relief’s international development.
Richard Curtis, trustee and co-founder of Comic Relief, said:
“Liz Warner’s appointment marks the next stage in Comic Relief’s adventure and I look forward enormously to working with Liz as we continue to use the power of comedy and entertainment to serve those who are leading the toughest lives”.
Tim Davie, chair of trustees at Comic Relief said of Warner:
“She is known as an innovator and has an award winning body of TV work. She has a track record in youth, diversity and has spent the last year working in digital – all of which make her a great candidate for the future of Comic Relief”.
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Kevin Cahill
Richard Curtis has paid tribute to Kevin Cahill, saying:
“I also want to pay a special tribute to Kevin Cahill – without whom we could not have achieved all the things we’ve done over the past 30 years. Kevin leaves behind an incredible legacy and a charity that remains as relevant and important now as when we founded it in 1985, albeit a little larger and more professional. I have no doubt that Liz Warner is the right person to lead Comic Relief to great success in the future.”
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.